1) a city official determines that the tree poses an imminent danger to people or property;

2) a city official determines that the tree is a substantial fire hazard; or

3) the tree is planted, grown and held for sale as part of a licensed nursery business.

Protected Trees

🌳Principal Native Trees - Coast Live Oak, Valley Oak, Redwood, Madrone, Bay Laurel, or Buckeye having a single main stem or trunk of 10 inches or more diameter at 4.5 feet above grade height (DBH), or up to three of the largest secondary stems totaling 10 inches or more DBH.

🌳City Tree - Any woody, perennial plant, regardless of size, located in a city park, a designated open space, or on any other city property. A single or multi-stemmed shrub or bush is not a city tree.

🌳Large Diameter Tree - A woody, perennial plant characterized by having a single main stem or trunk of 14 inches or more DBH, or up to three of the largest secondary stems totaling 18 inches or more DBH.

🌳Replacement tree - Any tree, regardless of size, which has been planted as required mitigation for the previous removal of another tree at the same site or elsewhere in the city.

The reviewing authority must base its determination to approve, conditionally approve or deny an application for a tree removal permit on a balancing of specific Criteria supporting retention or removal of the tree (i.e., the tree’s species, condition, and location, proximity of the tree to existing or proposed structures, etc.); however, the reviewing authority is required to issue a permit to remove the following trees without consideration of these criteria:

🌳Blue Gum Eucalyptus
(Eucalyptus globulus)

🌳Dwarf Blue Gum Eucalyptus
(Eucalyptus globulus 'Compacta')

🌳Monterey Pine

🌳Palm (all species)

🌳Acacia (all species)

🌳A dead tree (any species)

🌳Any tree that a public utility is required to remove under California Public Utility Commission regulations.

Replanting Requirements & In-lieu Planting Fees

For each Protected Tree removed, the applicant must plant a “Preferred Species Tree”, minimum 15 gallons, or pay an “in-lieu of planting fee” established by the City Council.

Preferred Species trees include:

🌳 Principal native trees, as defined in the Tree Ordinance; and

🌳 Native or locally acclimated tree species designated as preferred species trees by the City Manager (in consultation with the City Arborist). The list of Preferred Species Trees is provided on the City’s website.